spacing fence posts

duckboy · May 7, 2002

I have 2 fencing projects to get done soon and I would appreciate tapping the genuis and expertise of TBN. The first task is a deer fence, 88 X 66 ft. Will be using 6 inch round treated posts, the green ones. 12 ft posts, 4 in, 8 up, with 4 inch wire mesh attached. Is 12 foot spacing OK? On the 66 ft runs, starting from the center point, there would be 3 feet from the last 12 ft space to the corner posts. Diagonal bracing would not work being that close, so I was going to do 3 horizontal braces using the same posts, ...with diagonal cable bracing in an 'X', with turnbuckles. On one 88 ft run, at the center point, the first spacing would be 10 feet, then to 12 feet, which will allow for the same 3 foot corner spacing, and bracing. The other 88 ft run will have a sliding 10 ft gate, 2, 5 ft panels on overhead barn door tracks. This will allow the same 3 ft bracing at the corners and gate posts. I'm not sure if I have had too much coffee this AM, or not enough....
does this sound reasonable for looks and stability?

The other fencing task will be a 3 rail horse pasture fence with the same treated posts, 8 footers, 3 in 5 up, with 2 X 6 rails. Occational horse use, but mostly to clean up the front of my property, and discourage the neighbors from climbing the apple trees. What is the best spacing for this....10, or 12 ft?

Thanks for your time and input.....

PR

Soundguy · May 7, 2002

This is just my opinion.. but since you asked.. I'll subject you to it.

More or less, you will find that standard spacing is about 8' on center, due to the fact that most fence boards are 16' x 6" x 1

I'm guessing you are putting up hight tension line on the 12' posts? Or is a really really high fence?

2x6's will look great.. but cost a fortune.. unless you cut your own lumber. Most folks around here ( me included ) use the pt, or cresote 3 board style fence over a red-top no-climb 2x4v wire.

I just put in about a half mile of this style of fence. I also need to put in about 3300' of no clinb wire over either posts or the metal t-posts.

On my 3 board fence, I used a horizontal brace post near the corner post like you were talking about, and a #10 brace wire. I didn't X but just a single slash. I also didn't use turn buckles, but instead used a curling tool to twist the wire tight. Worked great, I used 6-8 posts, and 1 size up for the corner posts.

My fence will probably be here longer than I will...

Depending on whether you are going to use fence boards, or lumber.. let that determine your fence post distance.. try to minimize the waste... ( unless you are rich../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif )

Soundguy

TerryinMD · May 7, 2002

Duckboy,

Here's what I did for my deer fencing. It's not 100% deerproof, but close (more on this later). I have about 800' of fencing around our gardening area. I used 6"x6" CCA for corner posts and gate posts. The rest of the posts are the 8' oval shaped CCA posts (garden timbers may be the correct term). I used 12' posts buried about 4' deep at the corners and gates. Except for one which is 14'. It is used to attach my 12' home made gate. I set posts 8' from the gate and corner posts and attached a stay post horizontal to the ground. This is kept in place with pins and then I stretched high-tensil steel wire wrapped diagonally between the corner/gate posts and the stay post. You then place a piece of scrap wood into the wire and twist it tight to stabilize the corner and gate posts.

I then placed all of the other posts approximately 15' apart buried at a depth of 2'. I used 4' red top cattle fencing stretched and stapled to the posts. Make sure you stretch and secure the ends very well. (I'm in the process of redoing this right now. Tree, animal, kid, and tractor damage after 6 years) /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif I then stretched two strands of barbed wire to get a fence 6 ft high.

Now the rest of the story. The fence is effective during the summer. Once the deer have enough browsing material, they ignore the garden. However, during the drier periods and in winter, the pesky varmints will jumb the fence. Usually, leaving lots of hair and skin on the barbed wire. I have also seen the stupid creatures jumping through the two strands of barbed wire. So, while I'm repairing the fence I'm adding another strand of barbed wire. I have the wire so I'll put it to use.

If you want me to, I will take some pictures and post them.

Keep in mind, even a 8 ft fence may not be a deterant. Those pesky creatures will still try to jump. I have a length of chain supporting my 12' gate. A deer jumped the gate and garroted itself. Must have died instantly.

Hope this helps.

Terry

Robert_in_NY · May 7, 2002

We place our first post 10' from the corner and brace accordinally, then every 15' using 12' 4x4's sinking 3' into the ground as the post will move quite a bit even being down 3' during winter and wet springs. I use a 8' high woven field fence with 6" stays and run a single strand of wire along the top at 9' and have never had a deer jump over it or even try to jump it. When we had dogs attack our fence the deer would jump at the 6' high level as most deer can not jump 8' unless the fence has a lot of sag in it lowering the middle of the wire. We use the bucket on our tractor along with a couple of wire pullers made for our fencing with chains attached to it to stretch the wire. I just hook the chain to the back lip of the bucket and curl it back to tighten the fence. Our fences are over 600' on the shortest side so we have to stretch from both ends but with a pen your size you can anchor one side and stretch the other. The biggest thing is bracing the corners and where your gates will be as the gates put a lot of stress on a post standing 8'-9' in the air. You might also want to add snow fence along the bottom of the fence for a visible barrier if you are trying to keep animals either out or in as they think if they can see thru it they can walk or jump thru it. We had a duck fly into one of our top wires when we first put the fence up, fliped him over but he was ok. The heron hit the wire and ripped himself in two. Once the animals are use to the wire you can take down the visible barriers. Hope this helps somewhat.

duckboy · May 7, 2002

Thanks for the replies.

Soundguy, you only subjected me to some good advice....
you should know having just done 1/2 mile. with another
3300 ft to go! Whoa...
btw, I'm not rich in the bank account....just where I live
and what I do with my time.

Terryin MD, We just have wimpy little whitetails here on the island. not sure they'll clear 8 ', but they will walk onto the front porch and eat flowers out of pots. You mentioned barbed wire, how about razor wire? And, pictures...like pictures. I'll try and post one when this project is done and ready for the wedding in August.

Robert in NY, Thanks for the wire pulling tips hooked to the bucket. Better than come alongs attached to my pickup.
Well, maybe the door handle of my neighbor's pickup.......
600 ft on the short side..?? wow, you guys have some long runs.....

So thanks for the advice.....sometimes it helps to hear what other people have done to jumpstart a project. Time to plant some posts.

PR